A rich lineup that doesn’t give discounts to anyone and is against wars, fear, the madness of today’s society. The artist’s message is clear: it’s a difficult time, but we have to try anyway
Hard and pure. Vasco Rossi bangs his fists on the table to awaken consciences and launches a desperate cry of alarm against totalitarianism, fake news, hypocrisy, prejudice, power that denies rights, hatred and wars. Music and songs more effective than a thousand words. We are well beyond, in intentions, the announced “social set-list”, composed of 24 pieces and a medley of 7 songs. The one that took place last night, in the first of the 7 “Super E20” old out for some time at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, it is a real revolutionimplemented and desired by the KOMandante par excellence of Italian music history. “It will be difficult to get out of this situation”, but in the meantime the artist’s invitation is to try anyway.
THE STRONG BOND WITH MILAN – There was great anticipation, after the first rehearsals at the Cromie venue in Castellaneta and the two dates in Bibione to warm up the engines with the charge of an impressive audience for this tour with 600 thousand spectators, of which around 400 thousand in Milan alone. Vasco glided like a superhero over the Milanese city with a helicopter a couple of days earlier, and then was ready to face the stage. Moreover, the Milanese stadium effectively transformed into his residence for 20 days. “I’ll do seven at the San Siro, but I would have even done ten, but I know that others have to play there too,” said Vasco with his classic irony who arrives, all things considered, at 36 San Siros in total in his career, his debut was with “Fronte del stage Tour” on 10 July 1990. A record sealed by the delivery of the Parchment of the City of Milan which was handed over by the Mayor Giuseppe Sala. Shortly before yesterday’s show, however, a recognition arrived from the Lombardy region, delivered by President Fontana.
“BLASCO ROSSI” OPENS THE ROCK DANCES – Once inside the stadium the impact with the setup is impressive: a stage 86 meters wide, 25 meters deep, 28 meters high and dominated by 5 gigantic screens with multiscreen technology on which images of a dragon and then a beating heart follow one another at the opening, the two curved sides give a view of the entire stadium. Thus, as per tradition, the show opens – amidst the applause of 58 thousand fans – with three hard and pure pieces, designed to immediately give the audience a “shock”. It starts with “Blasco Rossi” (which was missing from the lineup since 2018) and it is no coincidence because in recent years the “gang” has expanded considerably “The term Blasco gang was born in Rimini or Riccione during a summer – Vasco said on social media – I had been out with some friends from Milan and they came home a little late, I remember they were 18 years old. The grandmother, seeing one of the girls arriving, got angry and told her: in my opinion you were with the Blasco Rossi gang.”
PICKS THE MELONS AND THE SCOUNDLES OF THE EARTH – Then it arrives “Asilo Republic” written 40 years ago dedicated, not surprisingly, to the prime minister Giorgia Meloni. Some verses of the song are modified: “We need an agent and then you will see with the police that the situation will return to how it was before – sings Vasco – Georgie! I will love you, yeah, Giorgia I will love you”. “You shoot at him” which resonates as a warning, today more than ever: “It has always been easy to do injustices. Take, manipulate and make believe, but now be more careful because everything is written.” Then Vasco turns to his peaceful army: “We are always here, lucid and alive, finally in Milan! We are here tonight to rock. It is the most powerful show in the universe, it is the first of the magnificent seven: seven times seven San Siro” while the numbers from 1 to 7 scroll on the wall to remember the record that Vasco will break this year at the Meazza. An evening “against the scoundrels who govern this world”.
THERE’S NO LACK OF GOODIES – There is also the welcome return, after 17 years, of “Just a little is enough”. An urgent and necessary necessity because the song seems to have been written in 2024 and is dedicated to all those who quickly get to their heads (“just go on television and people will immediately recognize you in the street”) but also to those who “it doesn’t take much to be intolerant” and the thought goes to Matteo Salvini. Among the gems of the lineup, the beautiful one is worth mentioning “Jenny is crazy”, which returns live after 14 years. An important and delicate song that talks about depression, an illness that seems to be taking hold more and more in modern society. A bittersweet song which however leaves a glimmer of hope “maybe he will even heal one day”. The only medley of the evening is very rich: “The witch (the Saturday night diva)”, “What do you want from me”, “Do you want to stay still”, “You want something from me”, “Blue eyes” and “Incredible romantic”.
VASCO TOUCHES THE STRINGS OF THE SOUL – It couldn’t be missed “The mistakes you make”, single released in September 2023 to coincide with the release of the beautiful docu-series produced by Netflix “Il survivor”. But from the roller coaster and the adrenaline of guitars and rock, sometimes one necessarily comes down to get excited and Vasco knows how to touch the strings of the soul. For example with “The Angels”, dedicated to Maurizio Lolli, a great friend and first manager, who died in 1994 at the age of just 43 from cancer. “And from here, and from here… Angels don’t come here with fireflies and cicadas”, 58 thousand people shout in unison. And then there is the evergreen “Sally”, dedicated to all women – but also men – who fight every day to survive. The encore is bomb-proof with one after the other: “Tell it to the Moon”, “If I could tell you”, “It’s only us”, “Reckless life”, “Song” and the cult song of entire generations “Clear dawn”, welcomed as always with a general jubilation among the confetti. And then she walks away like this, from the stadium, with a smile and a few more certainties: unity is (always) strength.
THE TOUR SUPPORTERS – Denise Faro was chosen as a supporter for the tour. She met Vasco in Los Angeles who then gave her the song “Libera e se mi va” as a gift for Women’s Day. Denise already opened Vasco at San Siro in 2019, this year she performed with an all-female band. Raffi, real name Raffaella Pierattoni, who has already opened for the 2022 and 2023 Tour with her band “XXENERGY”.
AND THEN WE FLY TO BARI – After the Milanese debut, it will be repeated tonight, on the 11th, on the 12th, on the 15th, on the 19th and finally on the 20th of June. Then Blasco flies to Bari with 4 dates (25, 26, 29 and 30 June) at the San Nicola stadium, all sold out and, here too, a first: no one has ever done 4 live shows in a row before. This is a live show not to be missed because “it’s all about balance above the madness”. But that “Vaschia” is just a healthy and lucid madness, which we like madly.
THE “SOCIAL” LADDER – 1. Blasco Rossi 2. Asilo Republic 3. You shoot him 4. The mistakes you make 5. How old are you 6. How are you 7. Living without you 8. Bubbles 9. Jenny is crazy 10. Sally 11. Lunatic Sunday * Interlude 2024 / Echo Lake * 12. A great film 13. The end of the millennium 14. The angels 15. It doesn’t take much 16. There are those who say no 17. The witch (the Saturday night diva) / What do you want from me / Do you want to stay still! / You want something from me / Blue eyes / Incredible romantic / Laughing at you 18. Rewind 19. The world I would like 20. Tell the Moon 21. If I could tell you 22. It’s just us 23. Reckless life 24. Song 25. Clear dawn
